Bangkok: Thawee Suraban and Sutham Charitngam, both members of parliament from the Palang Pracharath Party, were recently seen at the headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party, where they nominated Santi Piyatat for the position of Deputy Minister. This nomination falls under the quota allotted to MPs from the southern region of the Palang Pracharath Party. Notably, General Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, might not secure a position in this reshuffle.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Thawee disclosed that the list of candidates for deputy minister positions has been presented to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. However, he remains uncertain about the specific roles the nominees will assume. Thawee is optimistic that the cabinet formation will reach completion within the week.

In discussions about his communication with General Prawit Wongsuwan, Mr. Thawee confirmed that they had spoken and that General Prawit was agreeable to the developments. When questioned about the absence of a quota for General Prawit, especially regarding positions in the Ministry of Defense, Mr. Thawee admitted his lack of knowledge on the matter and suggested that the Prime Minister be consulted for details.

Furthermore, Mr. Thawee refrained from making statements on behalf of General Prawit, expressing that “Uncle is fine. He’s relaxed.” This comment reflects a sense of ease despite the apparent exclusion of General Prawit’s candidates.

Reporters revealed that Mr. Thawee has put forward the name of Mr. Santi Piyatat, who currently serves as Managing Director of real estate firm K.C. Property (KC), for the role of Deputy Minister. Observations indicate that the current Palang Pracharath Party cabinet list does not feature any candidates linked to General Prawit. This shift marks a departure from previous arrangements, where General Nat Inthacharoen, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, was considered for the Deputy Minister of Defense position.